Category Archives: Casey Anthony

In a recent blog, I noted that Orlando needs to be prepared for the international stage being thrust upon it. Stage right: Casey Anthony’s trial. Stage left (pun intended): activist organizations looking for a literal platform. As founder of CBR Public Relations 27 years ago this month, I think back on all the stages that our clients have shared with others’ agendas – and few by choice. I’ve learned that the bigger the brand, the bigger the opportunity presented for others to capitalize on the brand or a world-famous trial. Casey Anthony, unfortunately, has become both.

Activists rely on few dollars and relatively few staff to grab the world’s attention. These limitations require that they take advantage of opportunities presented by other larger organizations. Fast food companies pay millions to promote their brands, yet armed with limited dollars and staff resources, activists hoist themselves on the brands’ notoriety to the benefit of their own causes. Hard-earned company brands have been recently leveraged to call attention to everything from the price of tomatoes to transgender discrimination.

What does that have to do with Casey Anthony? With 500+ reporters, editors, columnists and videographers in town – and all parked within a few feet of one another – what better stage to stand on and shout a message? What bigger brand to capitalize upon? Orange County has provided a venue for key messaging for cause organizations, such as a recent local homeless issue that undeservedly received national media attention. My experienced gut is that this is just the beginning.

On a positive note, the Anthony trial is shining a spotlight on the need to conquer domestic violence, which in this case involved a mother’s alleged murder of her own daughter. The stage set to solve this societal secret and will hopefully spur thoughtful discussions and long overdue funding.

I wonder if the Downtown Orlando community grasps the stage that is being thrust upon them — and the unparalleled opportunity that stage will bring – starting tomorrow morning. For every reporter granted courtroom access, there are at least four other support personnel in the wings walking downtown streets, browsing our stores, utilizing our free Lymmo transportation service and looking to detect the pulse of Orlando. They want to know what makes Orlando tick. These journalists are fascinated by the juxtaposition of our magical tourism “worlds” (Disney World, Sea World, even Flea World) against the world of a death penalty murder trial that, deservedly or not, has captured the world’s attention.

The setting of the last gargantuan trial (from a media perspective) was held near the Hollywood stages in Los Angeles, a city that is accustomed to aggressive paparazzi, famous faces and larger-than- life personalities. With the O.J. Simpson trial as a barometer, it’s safe to say that Orlando has never experienced anything like what is about to descend upon the City Beautiful. Mayor Dyer, Orlando City Council and the Downtown Development Board grasp this as an opportunity to showcase our true Orlando – to demonstrate our sense of neighborhoods and community and yes, our potential as a cosmopolitan destination is in the balance the next month or so.

While cities across the country are begging for publicity to generate economic development, the international stage has been thrust upon us. It’s an opportunity to tout our greatness and to counter the image of a young mother who is charged with murdering her child. It’s up to the folks in Downtown Orlando to seize this opportunity for the right kind of stardom.

Lori C. Booker, APR, is founder and CEO of CBR and is a respected media commentator.